The corn pones recipe
I know all of you have been waiting with bated breath for my corn pones recipe. I'm happy to share it, but I wonder if you will have the same craving for corn pones that I do if they aren't a food of your childhood. I'm also worried that the directions won't make sense unless you've seen your mother do it.
I love corn pones slathered in butter with almost anything, but particularly dishes like ham hock and cabbage, or black-eyed peas with chopped onion sauteed in bacon fat.
But, hey, corn pones would also be great with duck confit. ...
Corn pones
2 cups white cornmeal
3 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons bacon fat (heaping)
1 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat two cookie sheets in the oven.
Add water to cornmeal, stir well. Add bacon fat and salt. While the batter is still hot, shake from a wet spoon onto HOT greased cookie sheets. Press the round of batter on top with wet fingers lengthwise to form ridges that look nice, get crisp and also hold butter in a delicious way. (If you don't keep rewetting your fingers, the batter will stick to them.)
Bake 25 minutes. Makes 20 to 24. These freeze and reheat well. Please understand, unlike cornbread, these don't rise at all.
Report back here after you make them.
Comments
Perhaps you should avail yourself of Mr. McIntyre's video skills.
Posted by: LEC | January 20, 2009 8:38 PM
I'm baking them this weekend. Also, this subject has brought to mind a vague memory of a song, or a movie, or a television show called Jubilation T. Cornpone. It has an association with L'il Abner in my mind, but it is all very fuzzy.
Yes, I could Google it and it's likely on Wikipedia, but if you haven't gotten the word, we don't trust Wikipedia any longer.
Posted by: Bucky | January 20, 2009 8:48 PM
Jubilation T. Cornpone is from Li'l Abner. There is a song and dance by that name in the musical:
When we fought the yankees,
and annihilation was near,
who was there to lead the charge
that took us straight to the rear.
Why it was Jubilation T. Cornpone ...
The town of Dogpatch is saved from government destruction when a letter from President Lincoln is found in the base of his statue.
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | January 20, 2009 10:43 PM
EL -- I'm trying to picture what the corn pones should look like. I found this online photo of corn meal pone from an "organic" recipe. Does this resemble your corn pones?
Excellent. Thanks. Only, of course, these look like they've been made with yellow cornmeal, a no no. EL
Posted by: hmpstd | January 21, 2009 5:34 AM
This recipe sounds and looks (thanks hmpstd) amazing. But anything made with bacon fat would probably be delicous! Thanks for sharing, I'd probably normally try making it, but since the holiday feasting activities all of my pants are snug so I'm trying to eat "reasonably".
Posted by: Joyce W. | January 21, 2009 7:04 AM
Bucky, Jubilation T. Cornpone was Dogpatch's own hero. There are a couple of High School production versions of the song on YouTube, but if I even think of going there from this computer IT will send the report to my boss. (And I was turned in yesterday for trying to watch the inauguration online.)
Posted by: Eve | January 21, 2009 9:36 AM
Sung originally by Stubby Kaye as Marryin' Sam, the dogpatch preacher.
Posted by: bra1nchild | January 21, 2009 2:35 PM
so what did you have with your corn pones, EL?
looking forward to trying this one...
Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. EL
Posted by: LJ | January 21, 2009 10:50 PM
Oh, man, Eve! Where I work, people were invited to various locations with large screens.
Posted by: Dahlink | January 22, 2009 6:27 AM